Dan, Glen and list.
Seems that Russell Mack is not getting his e mails to the list (however
copies come to me) and some of my responses are getting through to the list
days later after sending from this PC (Its Friday evening in the UK as this
is typed). Hence the likelihood of not following the thread on the debate
on why/how SCTA BNI racing could produce world records that could 'take
over' from the FIA lists. With a big - IF - the SCTA want to front
International or Worldwide speed record breaking.
Should you in SCTA set your sights on 'International', then you have to
accept that some people will find a location outside the USA to run fast
(probably at sea level) - then you need some form of vehicle work rules
and possibly an independent 'referee' so that the USA racers do not feel
that a record has been broken by unfair means (such as an overnight engine
change).
The only time I have been to compete at Bonneville was on private time at
an event over 19 days that I had a hand in organising. There is nothing in
my e mails that I want to run Bonneville Speed Week or any other SCTA /
USFRA / or ECTA event for that matter! I admire the clubs, the organising
people and their events in the USA - I just need to follow Keith to El
Mirage to see all the venues you currently have.
Here in the UK we work with one hour turnaround and with the bike we had up
to 2 hours. That bike was as complex as Al's car and we had people
handling peroxide rather than a healthy Nitro methane mix. On the 24 hour
endurance attempt we had (maximum) 90 seconds of pit stops every 2 hours,
most were 30 seconds - admittedly it was a production style racer not a
streamliner and we did not use chutes.
By the way the UK teams do not have any great difference to their US
counterparts when it comes to financing their sport - we all spend too much
on racing and not enough on other things. The Brits are not millionaire
racers either! All you have to remember is that for many drivers/riders
there is only one chance of making an attempt in the USA and so we have to
maximise the opportunity - yes, we do have a lot of enthusiasts helping
racers for no money who travel the long distances for the love of being
involved.
Malcolm Pittwood, Derby, England.
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